Gateway Student Support Services offered the workshop, “Count to Ten: Controlling Your Anger” last Monday, Nov. 6. Almost 30 students attended the workshop presented by Gateway Counselor and Education Specialist Phyllis Waldron. 

   Gateway designed the workshop to help students learn about anger: its causes, its effects and ways to control it.  

   “There are tons of things that make us angry,” Waldron said in her presentation. Examples include: 

• being treated unfairly,
• waiting for something or someone,
• money troubles and
• being teased or made fun of.

   Waldron also outlined the dangers of negative self-talk. Negative self-talk occurs when individuals convince that things are worse than they actually are. 

   “Say your friend is late and you say, ‘Well that just ruins my whole day,’ … You’ve ruined your day because your friend was late,” Waldron said. 

   Students received information to help determine if they have an anger management problem. If a student holds grudges, feels depressed often or feels powerless, they may have a problem with anger. 

   Anger problems can cause health issues like headaches, stomach trouble and insomnia. 

   To help control your anger, Waldron suggested: 

• Keep track of times you become angry and learn to recognize your triggers.
• Take time for things that you enjoy and value most.
• Work on changing your attitude to have a more positive outlook on life.
• Develop a sense of humor.

   Should the above steps fail, Waldron gave the following suggestions to stop anger once it has started. 

• Take deep breaths to slow your heartbeat.
• Count to ten slowly.
• Walk away from the problem.
• Call a friend.

   Waldron left the participants with the final message, “Don’t let anger destroy your life.”